RE: Sulphide9 Jan 2024 11:33
Jonah:
"SULFIDE LEACH
The leaching of the sulfides at low temperature consists of two steps. The first is mechanical liberation, achieved
by ultrafine grinding of the sulfide concentrate using the IsaMill™ technology. The second step is chemical
liberation, achieved by oxidation of the concentrate in a series of Albion Process™ leach reactors to extract
copper into solution. Copper is then recovered from solution by SX/EW. The Albion Process™ was developed in
1994 by Glencore and has real world success in delivering recoveries over 99% in chalcopyrite copper
concentrates. There are currently four installations in operation and two which are planned to restart in 2022.
The plants treat zinc [Glencore – San Juan de Neiva, Spain (commissioned 2010); Glencore – MRM, Australia
(2011); and Glencore – Nordenham, Germany (2011)], refractory gold [GeoProMining LLC – Ararat, Armenia
(2014)] and copper [Glencore – MIM, Australia (2007); Jubilee Metals Group – Sable Zinc, Zambia (2018)].
The dewatered copper concentrate (and additional purchased concentrate) is pumped from the copper
concentrate storage tank to a M7500 IsaMill™ where it is ground to 80% passing 12 μm. The milled concentrate
is then pumped to the first of eight leach reactors operating in serial configuration with a combined residence
time of 48 hours, each with a live volume of 1760 m3, where it is oxidized in an acidic oxidative leach to achieve
a copper extraction of 98%. The concentrate leach plant has a design capacity of 1,870 tons per day.
Raffinate from the SX/EW plant is added to the oxidative leaching circuit with concentrated acid added as
necessary to maintain an excess of about 10 g/L free acid in the output stream. Oxygen is injected into the
oxidative leach reactors with the HyperSparge™ supersonic gas injectors to facilitate leaching. The oxidative
leach discharge reports to sulfur flotation."
Draslovka say to implement their process is a simple reagent substitiution. Have to assume therefore that it must be physical expansion of the current Sable infra to provide greater throughput.
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